Trough system for machine tool coolant collection flumes

ABSTRACT

A machine tool coolant collection flume system (10) for communicating machine tool coolant from machine tools to a filtration system includes a main trough (12) and a tributary trough (14) intersecting the main trough wherein each trough (12,14) slopes downwardly in the direction of machine tool coolant flow and the main trough (12) has a greater cross-sectional area at the downstream side of its intersection with the tributary trough (14) to smoothly accommodate the additional flow of machine tool coolant from the tributary trough (14) without affecting upstream flow. A single large diameter flush nozzle (20) provides a low velocity high volume forced coolant flow in the main trough (12) upstream of the intersection by the tributary trough (14) to minimize the creation of mist and turbulence downstream.

This is a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 08/386,223filed on Feb. 9, 1995 which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/222,963filed on Apr. 5, 1994 which was a continuation of prior application Ser.No. 07/905,444 filed Jun. 29, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,220.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a flume system for communicating machine toolcoolant, and more particularly to uninterruptably maintaining coolantflow in machine tool coolant collection flumes that may have tributarytroughs that intersect wherein these troughs incorporate reduced slopesas flow volumes increase so that coolant velocity is maintained at adesired uniform rate and so that terminal invert is minimized.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventional machine tool coolant collection flumes include a singletrough that communicates machine tool coolant from a machine tool to afiltering station. In the alternative, a main trough is intersected bytributary troughs that communicate machine tool coolant from a pluralityof machine tools to the main trough and the trough in turn communicatesthe machine tool coolant therein to the filtering station. Such systemsare disclosed in assignee's earlier U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,940 and ofteninclude a plurality of low volume, high velocity flush nozzles tofacilitate the coolant flow.

It is at the intersection of the tributary troughs with the main troughthat machine tool coolant backs up causing contaminants suspended in thecoolant to settle out. Also, turbulence on the surface of the machinetool coolant at the intersection of the main and tributary troughscreates misting, which is undesirable, and foaming, which can cause apump downstream to cavitate.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,431,367; 1,348,554; 1,114,573; 1,042,792; and 1,434,337disclose channel flow systems and were uncovered during a searchconducted on the invention.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved collectionflume system for communicating machine tool coolant that maintains andpromotes coolant flow of uniform velocity.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved collectionflume system for communicating machine tool coolant that reduces mistingand foaming associated with confluence areas in the machine tool coolantsystem.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved collectionflume system where machine tool coolant can be added to the systemwithout effecting upstream coolant flows.

A still further object of the invention is to eliminate the need forhigh velocity flush nozzles closely and uniformly spaced throughout thelength of the main trough and its tributaries.

In carrying out the above objects and other objects of the invention,the improved collection flume system for communicating machine toolcoolant includes a main trough and tributary trough(s) intersecting themain trough. Each trough is sloped downwardly in the direction ofmachine tool coolant flow to facilitate the flow of the machine toolcoolant by gravity. The main trough increases in cross-sectional area atthe downstream side of its intersection with the tributary trough tosmoothly accommodate the additional flow of coolant from the tributarytrough in the system.

Preferably, the increase in cross-sectional area in the main trough isprovided by a step down section in the main trough. Both sloping anddiscrete step down profiles facilitate the additive flow condition atthe intersection, although a sloping step down is preferable.

In an alternative arrangement, the main trough width is increased at thedownstream side of its intersection with the tributary trough tosmoothly accommodate the additional flow of the coolant from thetributary trough in the system.

Preferably, a single flush nozzle provides forced coolant flow in themain trough upstream of the intersection of the tributary trough and themain trough. Preferably, a large diameter flush nozzle is utilized toprovide a large flow with a low velocity to minimize the creation ofmist and turbulence.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the surface of themachine tool coolant is maintained at a constant slope and parallel tothe slope of the trough bottom surface when flowing in an equilibriumcondition in the main trough through sizing of the main trough upstreamand downstream of its intersection with a tributary trough.

The above objects and other objects, features, and advantages of thepresent invention are readily apparent from the following detaileddescription of the best mode for carrying out the invention when takenin connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional perspective view of a flume system forcommunicating machine tool coolant constructed in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional perspective view of a flume system forcommunicating machine tool coolant constructed in accordance with analternative arrangement of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view of a flume system of the presentinvention illustrating the generally uniform profile of the surface ofmachine tool coolant in the system.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, a flume system for communicatingmachine tool coolant constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10 and is used ina collection flume system such as that disclosed in assignee's U.S. Pat.No. 4,655,940 which is hereby incorporated by reference. As ishereinafter more fully described, the flume system 10 reduces mistingand foaming associated with confluence areas and by elimination ofintermediate nozzles in a machine tool collection flume system. Such asystem 10 also promotes constant uniform machine tool coolant flow andeliminates the backing-up of machine tool coolant associated withintersecting flows.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flume system 10 includes a main trough 12and a tributary trough 14 intersecting the main trough. Each trough12,14 slopes downwardly so that the machine tool Coolant flow isassisted by gravity. The direction of machine tool coolant flow isrepresented by arrows. Main trough 12 has a greater cross-sectional areaat the downstream side of its intersection with tributary trough. 14 tosmoothly accommodate the additional flow of machine tool coolant fromthe tributary trough without suddenly increasing the fluid depth at thepoint of convergence.

In FIG. 1, the cross-sectional area at the downstream side of theintersection of the main trough 12 with the tributary trough 14 isaccomplished by providing a step down section 16 in the main trough. Thestep down profile shown is discrete although a sloped profile step downis within the scope of the invention and preferable.

In FIG. 2, the increase in cross-sectional area at the downstream sideof the main trough 12 intersection with the tributary trough 14 isaccomplished by providing an enlarged trough width section 18. Also, acombination of the step down section 16 and enlarged trough widthsection 18 can be utilized to create the greater cross-sectional area inthe main trough at the downstream side of its intersection with thetributary trough 14. Enlarging the cross-sectional area of the maintrough 12 at the downstream side of the intersection with the tributarytrough 14 avoids the situation in which machine tool coolant backs up inthe main trough at the intersection causing the flow to slow down andthe suspended particulate to fall out of suspension.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, maintrough 12 includes a flush nozzle 20, shown schematically, upstream ofthe intersection of tributary troughs 14. Flush nozzle 20 is a single,large diameter flush nozzle that provides sufficient machine toolcoolant flow to carry machining chips suspended in the coolant frommachine tools (not shown) to the filtering system (not shown) where theyare removed from the machine tool coolant. Large diameter flush nozzle20 provides a large volumetric flow of coolant at low velocity whichminimizes the creation of mist, with its attendant environmentalproblems, and turbulence, which can create foaming of the coolant andpump cavitation.

With further reference to FIG. 3, the slope of the surface 22 of themachine tool coolant in the main trough 12 is constant. The increasedcross-sectional area at the downstream side of the main trough 12intersection with each tributary trough 14 is such that the volumetricflow rate downstream of the intersection in the main trough is the sumof the flow rate in the main trough immediately upstream of theintersection and the flow rate in the intersecting tributary trough.

For example, if the flow rate at point A is 1,000 gallons per minute andthe input from tributary trough 14 at point B is 800 gallons per minute,then the main trough is enlarged so that the flow rate at point Cdownstream of the intersection of flows A and B is 1,800 gallons perminute without suddenly increasing the height of the top surface 22 ofthe fluid.

While the best mode for carrying out the invention has been described indetail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates willrecognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing theinvention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flume system for communicating machine toolcoolant carrying suspended contaminants, the flume system comprising:amain trough having upstream and downstream end portions; a singlecoolant source introducing forced coolant flow in the upstream endportion of said main trough, said coolant source providing sufficientvolume and low velocity of flow to substantially prevent the formationof misting and foaming of the coolant at said single coolant source; aplurality of tributary troughs intersecting with the main trough betweenthe upstream and downstream end portions providing additional flow ofcoolant into the main trough; the main trough having enlargementportions of greater cross-sectional area at the downstream side ofintersections with the respective tributary trough to smoothlyaccommodate the additional flow of coolant from the tributary troughswhile providing flow in the trough of sufficient velocity so that thesuspended contaminants remain continuously suspended in the coolantwithout the need for flush nozzles intermediate of the upstream anddownstream end portions.
 2. A method for transporting machine toolcoolant comprising:providing a main trough having upstream anddownstream end portions; introducing a forced coolant flow in theupstream end portion of said main trough through a single coolantsource, the flow being of sufficient volume and low velocity tosubstantially prevent the formation of misting and foaming; introducingadditional coolant from a tributary into the main trough between theupstream end and the downstream end portions;wherein said main troughhas an enlargement portion having a greater cross-sectional area at thedownstream side of its intersection with the tributary to smoothlyaccommodate the additional flow of coolant from the tributary troughwhile maintaining the flow in the main trough at a sufficient velocityso that the suspended contaminants remain continuously suspended in thecoolant without the need for flush nozzles intermediate of the upstreamand downstream end portions.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein:thesurface of the tool coolant is maintained at a generally constant slopethroughout the main trough during coolant flow through the main trough.4. A method for transporting machine tool coolant comprising:providing amain trough having upstream and downstream end portions; introducing aforced coolant flow in the upstream end portion of said main troughthrough a single coolant source, the flow being of sufficient volume andlow velocity to substantially prevent the formation of misting andfoaming; introducing additional coolant from a tributary into the maintrough between the upstream end and the downstream end portions; saidmain trough having an enlargement portion with a greater cross-sectionalarea at the downstream side of its intersection with the tributary tosmoothly accommodate the additional flow of coolant from the tributarytrough while providing flow of sufficient velocity in the main trough sothat the suspended contaminants remain continuously suspended in thecoolant without the need for flush nozzles intermediate of the upstreamand downstream end portions.